Gripping device for golfer&#39;s use

ABSTRACT

In a gripping device comprising a gripping mechanism including a pair of gripping jaws, normally opened, an actuating mechanism to close the pair of gripping jaws, and an elongate shaft connecting the actuating and gripping mechanisms, each gripping jaw has a gripping end affixed to such gripping jaw and configured to hold a golf tee having a head defining one end, a tip defining an opposite end, and a stem between the head and the tip, so as to allow the tip and an adjacent portion of the stem to remain exposed. Each gripping end has a bearing surface, which bears against the end defined by the head of such a tee being held. Being resilient and being concave, the gripping ends are adapted to hold a golf ball, if a golf tee is not being held. Thus, the gripping device is adapted to enable a golfer to set a golf tee without stooping and to place a golf ball onto a golf tee, which has been set, without stooping. The golf tee may be a standard tee or a “step” tee.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains to a gripping device of a type comprising a gripping mechanism, an actuating mechanism, and a connecting shaft. By this invention, the gripping device is adapted for a golfer's use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,769, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, exemplifies a gripping device of the type noted above. Broadly, in a gripping device of the type noted above, the gripping mechanism comprises a pair of gripping jaws, which are biased so as to be normally opened, and the actuating mechanism is actuatable by a user to close the gripping jaws.

Although the gripping device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,769 does not have a latching mechanism, it has been known to provide a gripping device of the type noted above with a latching mechanism, which is actuatable by a user to latch the gripping jaws releasably in a closed condition.

Heretofore, it has been known to adapt a gripping device of the type noted above for a golfer's use, as exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 4,013,295, No. 4,616,826, No. 4,949,961, No. 6,394,515 B1, and No. 6,749,522 B1, in United States Patent Application Publication No. US 2002/0132680 A1, and in United States Patent Application Publication No. US 2003/0203772 A1. This invention addresses perceived shortcomings in such adapted devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention improves a gripping device of a type comprising a gripping mechanism including a pair of gripping jaws, further comprising an actuating mechanism, which is actuatable by a user to operate the pair of gripping jaws, and further comprising an elongate shaft, which connects the actuating and gripping mechanisms.

Broadly, this invention provides that each gripping jaw has a gripping end, which is configured to hold a golf tee having a head defining one end of the golf tee, a tip defining an opposite end, and a stem between the head and the tip, so as to allow the tip and an adjacent portion of the stem to remain exposed, and wherein the gripping end of at least one of the gripping jaws has a bearing surface, which bears against the end defined by the head of such a tee being held, whereby the gripping device is adapted to enable a user, who is a golfer, to set a golf tee without stooping. The golf tee may be a standard tee or a “step” tee.

Preferably, the gripping end of each of the gripping jaws has such a bearing surface. Preferably, the gripping end of each gripping jaw has a gripping face and each bearing surface is defined by a recess in the gripping face having said bearing surface. Preferably, each gripping end is affixed to a respective one of the gripping jaws. Preferably, as affixed thereto, each gripping end is resilient.

Preferably, the gripping jaws are adapted to hold a golf ball between the gripping ends, when the gripping jaws are closed, at least if or, possibly, but only if a golf tee is not being held between the gripping ends, whereby the gripping device is adapted to enable a user, who is a golfer, to place a golf ball onto a golf tee, which has been set, without stooping. Preferably, where adapted to hold a golf ball therebetween, the gripping ends are concave.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partly broken away, perspective view of a gripping device of the type noted above, as improved by this invention. FIG. 1 shows a golf tee, as set in the ground by the improved device, and a golf ball to be next placed by the improved device.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of a lower portion of the improved device, as shown in FIG. 1, along with the golf tee shown in FIG. 1 and the golf ball shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows two gripping jaws of the improved device in an opened condition, in full lines, and in a closed condition, in broken lines.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail, which is taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2, in a direction indicated by arrows.

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged, sectional view, which is taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3, in a direction indicated by arrows.

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 are detail, which are analogous to FIG. 3 but which show alternative forms for a gripping end of an exemplary one of the gripping jaws.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary detail of the lower portion shown in FIG. 2, along with the golf tee, as set in the ground, and along with the golf ball, which is shown in broken lines as being lifted by the improved device from the ground and which is shown in full lines as being placed by the improved device on the golf tee, as shown in full lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1 and in other views, a gripping device 10 of the type noted above is improved, as provided by this invention, so as to enable a golfer to set a golf tee 12 without stooping and to place a golf ball 14 onto the golf tee 12, which has been set, without stooping. The golf tee 12 has a head 12 a defining one end of the golf tee 12, a tip 12 b defining an opposite end of the golf tee 12, and a stem 12 c between the head 12 a and the stem 12 c.

Broadly, the gripping device 10 comprises a gripping mechanism 20 including a pair of gripping jaws 22, which are biased so as to be normally opened, an actuating mechanism 30, which is actuatable by a user to close the pair of gripping jaws 22, and further comprising an elongate shaft 40, which connects the actuating mechanism 30 and the gripping mechanism 20. Except as shown and described herein, and except for the terminology used to describe various elements of the gripping device 10, the gripping device 10 conforms to the “pick up” device shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,769, supra.

As contemplated by this invention, each gripping jaw 22 has a gripping end 50, which made from a resilient material, such as a synthetic rubber, and which is affixed adhesively or otherwise to said gripping jaw 22. The gripping end 50 of each gripping jaw 22 has a gripping face 52, which is concave and which has a recess 60 configured to receive and to hold, snugly, the head 12 a of the golf tee 12 and an upper portion of the stem 12 c of the golf tee 12, so as to allow a lower portion of the stem 12 c of the golf tee 12 and the tip 12 b to extend beyond the gripping end 50. The recess 60 has a bearing surface 62, which bears against the end defined by the head 12 a of the golf tee 12, when the golf tee 12 is held in the recess 60.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the gripping jaws 22 are closed while the golf tee 12 is being held in the recesses 60 of the gripping ends 50 with the bearing surfaces 62 bearing against the head 12 a of the golf tee 12, the gripping device 10 can be then used by a golfer to press the golf tee 12 into the ground, until the gripping ends 50 engage the ground, whereby the golf tee 12 is set to a controlled depth. As shown in FIG. 8, the gripping device 10 can be then used to lift the golf ball 14 from the ground and to place the golf ball 14 onto the golf tee 12, so set. Being concave, the gripping faces 52 of the gripping ends 50 of the gripping jaws 22 hold the golf ball 14 tend to hold the golf ball 14 securely, as the golf ball 14 is being lifted and is being placed.

In an alternative form of each gripping end 50, as shown in FIG. 5, the recess 60 is configured to hold the golf tee 12 in either of two positions relative to said gripping end, namely, a comparatively more withdrawn position and a comparatively less withdrawn position. Thus, the recess 60 has two bearing surfaces, namely, a bearing surface 62 a, which bears against the end of the head 12 a of the golf tee 12 when held in the comparatively more withdrawn position, and a bearing surface 62 b, which bears against the end defined by the head 12 a of the golf tee 12 when held in the comparatively less withdrawn position. The alternative form enables the controlled depth for a given tee to be thus varied to either of two controlled depths and, further, permits comparatively longer tees and comparatively shorter tees to be alternatively used.

In each of the alternative forms of each gripping end 50, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 respectively, the recess 60 is configured to hold a golf tee, which is not shown, of a type known as a “step” tee. A “step” tee differs from the golf tee 12, supra, because the head of the “step” tee is shaped differently. The head of a “step” tee may be comparatively longer or comparatively shorter. As shown in FIG. 6, the recess 60 is configured to hold a “step” tee having a comparatively longer head and has a bearing surface 62 c, which bears against the end of the head of the “step” tee being held. As shown in FIG. 7, the recess 60 is configured to hold a “step” tee having a comparatively shorter head and has a bearing surface 62 c, which bears against the end of the head of the “step” tee being held.

As an alternative to a gripping device conforming to the “pick up” device shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,769, supra, this invention may be instead embodied in a gripping device of the type noted above, which is provided with a latching mechanism, as discussed above. 

1. In a gripping device of a type comprising a gripping mechanism including a pair of gripping jaws, further comprising an actuating mechanism, which is actuatable by a user to operate the pair of gripping jaws, and further comprising an elongate shaft, which connects the actuating and gripping mechanisms, an improvement wherein each gripping jaw has a gripping end, which is configured to hold a golf tee having a head defining one end of the golf tee, a tip defining an opposite end of the golf tee, and a stem between the head and the tip, so as to allow the tip and an adjacent portion of the stem to remain exposed, wherein the gripping end of at least one of the gripping jaws has a bearing surface, which bears against the end defined by the head of such a tee being held, and wherein the gripping jaws are adapted to hold a golf ball between the gripping ends, whereby the gripping device is adapted to enable a user, who is a golfer, to set a golf tee without stooping.
 2. In a gripping device of a type comprising a gripping mechanism including a pair of gripping jaws, further comprising an actuating mechanism, which is actuatable by a user to operate the pair of gripping jaws, and further comprising an elongate shaft, which connects the actuating and gripping mechanisms, an improvement wherein each gripping jaw has a gripping end, which is configured to hold a golf tee having a head defining one end of the golf tee, a tip defining an opposite end of the golf tee, and a stem between the head and the tip, so as to allow the tip and an adjacent portion of the stem to remain exposed, wherein the gripping end of each of the gripping jaws has a bearing surface, which bears against the end defined by the head of such a tee being held, and wherein the gripping jaws are adapted to hold a golf ball between the gripping ends, whereby the gripping device is adapted to enable a user, who is a golfer, to set a golf tee without stooping.
 3. In a gripping device of a type comprising a gripping mechanism including a pair of gripping jaws, which are biased so as to be normally opened, further comprising an actuating mechanism, which is actuatable by a user to close the pair of gripping jaws, and further comprising an elongate shaft, which connects the actuating and gripping mechanisms, an improvement wherein each gripping jaw has a gripping end, which is configured to hold a golf tee having a head defining one end of the golf tee, a tip defining an opposite end of the golf tee, and a stem between the head and the tip, so as to allow the tip and an adjacent portion of the stem to remain exposed, wherein the gripping end of each of the gripping jaws has a bearing surface, which bears against the end defined by the head of such a tee being held, and wherein the gripping jaws are adapted to hold a golf ball between the gripping end, whereby the gripping device is adapted to enable a user, who is a golfer, to set a tee without stooping.
 4. The improvement of claim 1, wherein the gripping end of each gripping jaw has a gripping face, and wherein each bearing surface is defined by a recess in the gripping face having said bearing surface.
 5. The improvement of claim 2, wherein the gripping end of each gripping jaw has a gripping face, and wherein each bearing surface is defined by a recess in the gripping face having said bearing surface.
 6. The improvement of claim 3, wherein the gripping end of each gripping jaw has a gripping face, and wherein each bearing surface is defined by a recess in the gripping face having said bearing surface.
 7. (canceled)
 8. The improvement of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, wherein the gripping ends are concave. 9-10. (canceled)
 11. The improvement of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, wherein each gripping end is affixed to a respective one of the gripping jaws.
 12. The improvement of claim 8, wherein each gripping end is resilient. 